Two blocks of mass on a ramp with a frictionless surface?

[wahllyd]

Homework Statement

Two blocks of mass m1 and m2 on a ramp with a frictionless surface? PLEASE HELP!?
A diagram shows two blocks of mass m1 and m2 on a ramp with a frictionless surface. The blocks are connected by a massless string over a massless frictionless pulley. The ramp makes an angle of x with the horizonal, and the acceleration due to gravity is g. m1 is on the slanted surface while m2 is hanging by the pulley off the side of the ramp.

a)in terms of the given constants, determine the ratio of m2 to m1 for which the block with mass m1 will:

i)accelerate up the ramp.

ii)slide up the ramp with constant speed.

b)If the ramp is now modified so that the coefficient of kinetic friction between the inclined plane and the block of m1 is now µ:

i)Calculate the acceleration of the system.

ii)Determine the ratio of m2 to m1 for which the block with mass m1 will slide up the ramp with constant speed, in terms of the given constants.

Homework Equations

F=ma,
Ff= µFn

The Attempt at a Solution

m1/m2:...

 

[tiny-tim]

welcome to pf!

hi wahllyd! welcome to pf!

(try using the X₂ button just above the Reply box )

let's do a)ii) first:

call the tension (in the string) "T"

then write out two F = ma equations, one for each block …

(remember, a will be the same for both blocks)

what do you get? ​